“More than two-dozen House Republicans have been outraised by a Democrat for two quarters in a row, and for eight of them it was their third time. … With Democrats having already picked up a Republican-leaning seat in a special election this year, some top House Republicans said members need to get with the program and start preparing for the worst.”

“‘Numbers like that are disappointing. There’s no excuse for an incumbent being outraised by most challengers,’ said Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, who chaired the National Republican Congressional Committee in the 2008 cycle and served as its executive director in 1992. ‘If you’re serious about coming back, if you’re serious about staying in the majority, you need to go raise the money. It’s just that simple.’”

“One major source of concern: some vulnerable members have seen their cash-on-hand advantage evaporate. Some 15 Republicans had less in the bank than one or more opponent by the end of March, including some in top battlegrounds such as Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of California and John Faso of New York. In another six districts, a top challenger’s war chest was within $140,000 of the incumbent’s, including Reps. Mia Love of Utah, Leonard Lance of New Jersey, and Jason Lewis of Minnesota.”

“’We’re so much better than what we’re performing right now,’ said Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, another former NRCC chairman.” (Hotline reporting)

CASH RACE. The DCCC raised $14.3 million in March, bringing its cycle-to-date total to $140 million. It raised $34.2 million overall in the first quarter. (release) “The NRCC raised $10.5 million last month, according to a party committee aide. But the DCCC topped its Republican counterpart in March, bringing in $3.8 million more than the NRCC last month. The NRCC continues to lead in cash on hand with $58.8 million to the DCCC’s $57 million.” (Politico)

House Speaker Paul Ryan “headlined three fundraisers for Republican congressional candidates in Washington Wednesday, a demonstration of strength a week after his surprise retirement announcement set off concerns about whether the speaker could continue his pace as the House GOP’s top fundraiser. Ryan headlined an event for” former state Sen. Debbie Lesko (R) “running in an Arizona special election next week, that was expected to bring in around $70,000 for her campaign, according to sources familiar with the event. … Ryan also headlined fundraisers for” Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH 01) and French Hill (R-AR 02), “two incumbents being targeted by Democrats this fall. The events were expected to bring in around $80,000 combined, according to a source familiar with the planning who requested anonymity to discuss private events. Chabot and Hill were each outraised by a Democratic opponent in the first three months of 2018 and are likely to face competitive re-elections. … The events Wednesday were intended to show the Wisconsin Republican remains an asset to the GOP majority.” (Real Clear Politics)

COUNTRY FORWARD. “A centrist coalition called Country Forward that supports middle-of-the-road candidates in both parties helped” Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL 03) “fend off a progressive primary challenge this week. The group had help from political technology firm Applecart, which helped” Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA 18) “in his Pennsylvania victory over Republican Rick Saccone. These groups’ involvement adds to the tension in the Democratic party this year between centrist members of Congress and progressive challengers. … Country Forward is a super PAC that helps moderate Republicans and Democrats facing far-left or far-right challengers and says it has raised close to $50 million to intervene in 2018 House races.” (Axios)

WARNING SIGN. “The surge of enthusiasm among Democrats that’s produced a record number of candidates for Congress this year has come at a cost: spread out donations and campaign accounts drained by expensive primary fights. Even as Democratic donors lavish money on the party’s U.S. House candidates in the first midterm election of Donald Trump’s presidency, an analysis of this week’s Federal Election Commission filings shows Republican candidates have more money in the bank in 17 of 23 districts rated as toss-ups in November by the non-partisan Cook Political Report. … Plenty of time remains for fundraising before the November election. But the current imbalance suggests a potential advantage for Republicans who may have more resources in the early phase of the general election campaign to define their Democratic opponents in unflattering ways.” (Bloomberg)

"President Trump signed a sweeping spending bill Friday afternoon, averting another partial government shutdown. The action came after Trump had declared a national emergency in a move designed to circumvent Congress and build additional barriers at the southern border, where he said the United States faces 'an invasion of our country.'"

Source:

REDIRECTS $8 BILLION

Trump Declares National Emergency

6 days ago

THE DETAILS

"President Donald Trump on Friday declared a state of emergency on the southern border and immediately direct $8 billion to construct or repair as many as 234 miles of a border barrier. The move — which is sure to invite vigorous legal challenges from activists and government officials — comes after Trump failed to get the $5.7 billion he was seeking from lawmakers. Instead, Trump agreed to sign a deal that included just $1.375 for border security."

Source:

COULD SOW DIVISION AMONG REPUBLICANS

House Will Condemn Emergency Declaration

6 days ago

THE DETAILS

"House Democrats are gearing up to pass a joint resolution disapproving of President Trump’s emergency declaration to build his U.S.-Mexico border wall, a move that will force Senate Republicans to vote on a contentious issue that divides their party. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said Thursday evening in an interview with The Washington Post that the House would take up the resolution in the coming days or weeks. The measure is expected to easily clear the Democratic-led House, and because it would be privileged, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) would be forced to put the resolution to a vote that he could lose."

Source:

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, DRUG FORFEITURE FUND

Where Will the Emergency Money Come From?

1 weeks ago

THE DETAILS

"ABC News has learned the president plans to announce on Friday his intention to spend about $8 billion on the border wall with a mix of spending from Congressional appropriations approved Thursday night, executive action and an emergency declaration. A senior White House official familiar with the plan told ABC News that $1.375 billion would come from the spending bill Congress passed Thursday; $600 million would come from the Treasury Department's drug forfeiture fund; $2.5 billion would come from the Pentagon's drug interdiction program; and through an emergency declaration: $3.5 billion from the Pentagon's military construction budget."

Source:

TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SIGN

House Passes Funding Deal

1 weeks ago

THE DETAILS

"The House passed a massive border and budget bill that would avert a shutdown and keep the government funded through the end of September. The Senate passed the measure earlier Thursday. The bill provides $1.375 billion for fences, far short of the $5.7 billion President Trump had demanded to fund steel walls. But the president says he will sign the legislation, and instead seek to fund his border wall by declaring a national emergency."